from all restraint； the traders could act as they pleased。 It appears
hardly credible that although the wording of the contracts was almost
holy； no examination of the vessels was made before their departure from
Khartoum。 Had the Soudan government been sincere in a determination to
lease out the White Nile for the purpose of benefiting the country by
the establishment of legitimate commerce； surely the authorities would
have convinced themselves that the traders' vessels contained cargoes of
suitable merchandise； instead of being loaded with ammunition； and
manned by bands of armed pirates。
If the owner of a pack of wolves were to send them on a commission to
gather wool from a flock of sheep； with the simple protection of such
parting advice as 〃Begone； good wolves； behave yourselves like lambs；
and do not hurt the mutton！〃 the proprietor of the pack would be held
responsible for the acts of his wolves。 This was the situation in the
Soudan。 The entire country was leased out to piratical slave…hunters；
under the name of traders； by the Khartoum government； and although the
rent； in the shape of large sums of money； had been received for years
into the treasury of the Soudan； my expedition was to explode like a
shell among the traders； and would at once annihilate the trade。 I now
understood the reason for the alteration in my proposed territorial
limit from the 14 degrees N。 lat。 to the 5 degrees。 Khartoum is in lat。
15 degrees 35' N。 Gondokoro is N。 lat。 4 degrees 54'； thus； if my
jurisdiction should be reduced to the south of Gondokoro； the usual
traffic of the White Nile might continue in the north during my absence
in the south； and the original contracts would be undisturbed。
It is a duty that I owe to the Khedive of Egypt to explain these
details。 It would at first sight appear that the expedition to suppress
the slave…trade was merely a theatrical announcement to court the
sympathy of Europe； but which； in reality； had no solidity。 I am
perfectly convinced that the Khedive was thoroughly sincere in his
declared purpose of suppressing the slave…trade； not only as a
humanitarian； but as an enlightened man of the world； who knew； from the
example of the great Powers of Europe； that the time had arrived when
civilization demanded the extinction of such horrors as were the
necessary adjuncts of slave…hunting。 The Khedive had thus determined to
annex the Nile Basin； and establish his government； which would afford
protection； and open an immense country to the advantages of commerce。
This reform must be the death…blow to the so…called traders of
Khartoum； who were positively the tenants of the governor…general of the
Soudan。
The expedition of the Khedive； launched with admirable determination on
his part； was thus inimical to every local interest； and was in direct
opposition to public opinion。 It was therefore a natural consequence
that pressure should be exerted by every interest against the
governor…general of the Soudan。 Djiaffer Pacha was an old friend of
mine； for whom I had a great personal regard； and I regretted the false
position in which both he and I were placed。 My title and position as
governor…general of Central Africa to a certain extent weakened his
authority。
He had by the force of circumstances； and according to former usages； so
far tolerated the acts of the White Nile traders as to acknowledge them
as contracting parties with his own government。 The most important
lessee had no less than ten stations situated within the territory under
my jurisdiction； for which he was paying a large annual rent。 I knew；
and the lessee； Achmet Sheik Agad； well knew； that his so…called trade
was simply brigandage。 My former travels； as described in 〃The Albert
N'yanza；〃 had led me behind the curtain； and the traders were well aware
that I knew every secret of their atrocities； thus my reappearance upon
the scene with rank of pacha and major…general； at the head of a small
army； together with the possession of absolute and supreme power； threw
the entire population into a state of consternation。 The traders； as
Mohammedans and subjects； trusted to the protection of their own
governor…general。 Already I had captured their vessels； imprisoned their
agents； liberated their slaves； and confiscated the ivory； subject to
the decision of the Khedive。 Already I had caught the governor himself
（Ali Bey of Fashoda） in the act of kidnapping helpless women and
children； whom I had immediately insisted upon liberating； although I
had no legal jurisdiction in his province。 I simply depended upon the
personal support of the Khedive； whose sincerity I never doubted； thus I
acted as I firmly believed the Khedive would have desired me to act
under the circumstances。 The Khedive proved that my confidence in his
sincerity was well founded。 He at once dismissed from his service and
disgraced the governor of Fashoda。 These facts cast shadows of coming
events。 The Soudan authorities were compromised； my interference in the
Shillook country was naturally distasteful to the governor…general。 Both
the government of the Soudan and the traders at Khartoum perceived that
I should act in strict accordance with the instructions I had received
from the Khedive。 There was no hope left； except in delays； that might
render an advance impossible with a heavily…laden fleet through the
obstructions of the river。
It was necessary to modify the terms of the contract entered into
between the governor…general and Sheik Achmet Agad。 This trader
represented his case to me as one of considerable injustice； which I was
forced to acknowledge。 As a mark of respect to Djiaffer Pacha； who had
originally entered into the contract； I requested him to arrange the
terms of the new agreement together with myself in the public divan。 It
was argued by Sheik Achmet Agad that the fact of the government being
established in countries where he had been independent would cause a
great loss to his trade； as it would upset the confidence of the
natives； and they would cease to bring ivory for sale。 In reality； this
argument should be interpreted： 〃If the government is established； there
will be an end to our razzias； and we shall have neither slaves nor
cattle to offer in exchange for ivory。〃
He also justly argued that 〃it would be unfair should the government
purchase ivory from countries already leased for trading purposes to the
merchant。〃
I therefore arranged that； until the expiration of his original
contract； no ivory should be purchased by the government。
Also； that instead of the money payment now annually made to the
government； the rent should be paid in ivory； at the rate of two…fifths
of the amount collected。 The ivory was to be delivered and weighed in
Gondokoro； at which place the rent was to be paid to the government in
tusks。
The original contract would expire on April 9； 1872。
My hands were to a certain extent tied by these engagements； but I
resolved that at the expiration of the term I should assume a monopoly
of the ivory trade for the government； on the principle of the fur trade
of the Hudson's Bay Company； as it would be impossible to permit the
acts of the Khartoum traders； who； I was convinced； would never deal
honestly with the natives。
The working representative of Achmet Sheik Agad was his son…in…lawa
man named Abou Saood： I had seen this person when at Tewfikeeyah； he had
arrived in charge of several vessels from Gondokoro during the rainy
season； when the flooded river and strong south wind had allowed the
passage of his boats。 At that time he had no slaves on board； but I
subsequently discovered that upon hearing that I had formed a station
near the Soba； he had discharged a large cargo of slaves at the station
of Kutchuk Ali on the Bahr Giraffe； so as to pass Tewfikeeyah in a state
of innocence and purity； and thus save the confiscation of his ivory。
This man was present at the divan when the final agreement was signed by
myself and his principal。 He vowed fidelity in so forcible a manner that
I entertained serious doubts of his sincerity。 An arrangement was
entered into； that he was to supply the government troops with beef；
mutton； butter； &c。； together with the native carriers for the transport
of baggage； stores； &c。； at an established rate then agreed upon； the
provisions were to be delivered from the resources at his command at his
various stations。 In the event of any native war； he was to furnish
assistance when called upon by the government for irregular troops； of
which he had about 1；800 in the districts included in my territory。
I did not admire the personal appearance of Abou Saood。 A judge of
physiognomy would have objected to the downcast look of humility； the
un…certain squint of one eye； the furtive expression of countenance；
added to the ultra…holiness of his ejaculations when called upon for an
answer； and the pious cant of his protestation against all wrong…doings。
At the same time that he was acting the part of saint； I knew him to be
a bird of the same feather as the rest of the White Nile slave…hunters。
Some little diplomacy was necessary to smooth the troubled waters of
Khartoum。 I made every allowance for the passive obstructiveness of the
authorities； it was perfectly natural under the circumstances of a
sudden reform that affected materially the interests of the entire
population； both high and low。 At the same time； it was necessary to win
the game。 I was much attached to Djiaffer Pacha in his unofficial
capacity； as I could never forget the kindness that I had received from
him at Souakim when he welcomed my wife and myself on our return from a
long and arduous expedition。 He was a perfectly honest man in his
dealings； and most generous to all around him。 His great desire was to
earn a good reputation； thus he was not sufficiently vigilant or severe
with the sub…officials throughout the vast territory which he governed。
He had formerly been an admiral in the Egyptian navy； and he had visited
England； where he had learnt to respect the English name of 〃gentleman。〃
To be considered a 〃gentleman〃 （which he pronounced in English）； was
in his estimation a great honour。